Just two points separate Santos and Gremio as the two sides prepare to face off at Estadio Urbano Caldeira on Sunday.
Gremio find themselves just inside the bottom four and are level with both eighteenth-place Bahia and nineteenth-place Sport Recife on 23 points.
Meanwhile, Santos sit sixteenth – two points clear of Gremio and two points behind fifteenth-place Juventude.
Santos have only managed to win five of their 23 Serie A outings this term, recording ten draws and eight losses along the way.
Following a 1-1 draw with Sao Paulo on Thursday, Santos head into this game on an 11-match winless streak in all competitions.
In fact, their last Serie A victory came all the way back on August 1. Since then, they have registered six draws and three losses in Brazil’s top tier.
It is also worth noting that four of their last five games across all competitions have produced under 2.5 goals.
On the flip side, Gremio head into Sunday’s clash on a three-game winless stretch, having drawn 2-2 with Cuiaba on Wednesday.
Prior to the midweek draw, they were thrashed 4-2 by Athletico-PR before suffering a 2-1 defeat to Sport Recife.
When you look at the bigger picture, Gremio have only managed to win six of their 22 Serie A games this season – recording five draws and 11 losses in the process.
Worse still, they are the joint-third lowest scorers in Brazil’s top tier, having netted a measly 20 goals this term.
If they aren’t careful, the two-time Serie A champions could find themselves involved in a relegation battle.
Head-to-head: Santos are enjoying a five-match unbeaten streak against Gremio, having claimed two wins and three draws since their last victory.
In fact, Gremio have only managed to win one of their previous eight meetings with Santos in all competitions.
It is also worth noting that each of the last three meetings between the teams have produced over 3.5 goals.
Team news: The injuries are stacking up for Santos at the moment, with Sandry, Kevin Malthus, John and Carlos Sanchez currently on the sidelines.
Gremio have no fresh injury worries, although right-back Vanderson is one yellow card away from a suspension.
With both sides struggling at the moment, this is destined to be a close game between two team who desperately need points.
For that reason, Forebet predicts that Santos and Gremio will play out a draw this weekend, with both teams netting over 1.5 goals.